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Restaurants rally for Forsyth County deputy injured in courthouse shooting

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Fundraisers for deputy injured in shooting

The following are locations in Cumming where proceeds will go toward injured Forsyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Rush. In addition, an account has been established at BB&T for the deputy. Donations are accepted at all branch locations.

Zaxby’s on Canton Highway: 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. today.

Cici’s Pizza on Ronald Reagan Boulevard: 4-9 p.m. Thursday.

Chick-fil-A on Atlanta Road: 5-9 p.m. June 23.

Beef O’ Brady’s on Freedom Parkway: 4-11 p.m. June 26.

CUMMING — It wasn’t long after the June 6 attack on the Forsyth County Courthouse before the community started reaching out to help.

First, a BB&T bank account was established to raise money to help Forsyth County Sheriff’s Deputy Daniel Rush, who was injured in the gunfight with the shooter.

Now, area businesses are holding special events to raise additional funds for Rush, who has been credited with preventing the shooting from becoming much worse.

Rush was shot in the leg, but no one else was injured in the incident when deputies returned fire on 48-year-old gunman Dennis Ronald Marx of Cumming as he began what authorities have described as a “full frontal assault” on the courthouse.

Marx, who died of gunshot wounds, used explosives and other weapons in an attempt to enter the building and possibly take hostages.

Sheriff Duane Piper has credited Rush with preventing a “major catastrophe” by engaging Marx after he pulled a rented sport utility vehicle up the curb and onto the courthouse plaza. Rush slowed Marx enough for other deputies to get into position.

From 10:30 a.m. to 10 p.m. today, Zaxby’s on Canton Highway will donate 10 percent of its profits to Rush’s fund.

“Dan is one of my regular customers,” said General Manager Dennis Dyon. “I’ve known the guy for four or five years.

“When something like this happens, it’s traumatic. He came in a few times a week ... he’d come over and get his chicken finger plate with an extra Zax sauce and we’d talk for a few minutes.”

On Thursday, Cici’s Pizza on Ronald Reagan Boulevard will donate a portion of its proceeds from 4 to 9 p.m. to Rush’s account.

On June 23, Chick-fil-A on Atlanta Road will donate proceeds from 5 to 9 p.m.

And June 26, from 4 to 11 p.m., Beef O’Brady’s on Freedom Parkway will contribute to the fund.

Dyon said when he first found out about the shooting, he was horrified and surprised. But after learning one of his regulars was the injured deputy, his “concerns went out right away.”

“I just wanted to do whatever I could to help the man out,” he said. “To me, he’s a hero.”

Piper was pleased to learn of the efforts for Rush.

“It’s comforting to see the community’s response and support for our deputy who was injured protecting our community,” he said.